159 13 STRUGGLE for POWER Even Before He Established The

13 STRUGGLE FOR POWER Even before he established the Rosicrucian Fellowship headquarters, Max Heindel had intended to erect a sanitarium or school of healing. By August 6, 1913 , his plan materialized on a small scale with three cottages built for this express purpose, each with two rooms. Very soon, however, these rooms had to be used for members who remained at Mount Ec- clesia. This situation continued until April 1929 when the Board of Trus- tees, of which Mrs Heindel was president, appointed a committee to in- vestigate the possibility of building a sanitarium. 89. Cornerstone for the Sanitarium. 90. Situation of the Sanitarium The May 1929 magazine reported that architect Lester A. Cramer had drawn plans for a sanitarium. These plans specified a central administra- tive section for an office, a reception room, four treatment rooms, a kitchen, and a dining room, with nurses’ quarters above. On either side of the central portion there were patients’ quarters, eight private rooms and four wards, each with a capacity for four beds. The wards were sur- rounded on three sides by a terrace. The plan covered the first phase and provided for a total of twenty-four patients. This initial structure was ar- ranged so that other units could be added when needed. The sanitarium would operate primarily along natural lines, with special attention to physiotherapy, to include hydrotherapy, light-therapy, and massage. Osteopathic or chiropractic manipulation and sunbaths would be included, all based upon the Rosicrucian method of healing. An institution of this type would require much less capital outlay than would a hospital with a high-priced medical and surgical staff. 159 It was estimated that to build the first unit and carry it through the first year would require a sum of at least $50,000 . The committee decided that it would to be unwise to start operations with less than half this amount actually in hand. A site between Carey Road and Mount Ecclesia Drive, as shown in the picture, would provide room for future expansion. 238 On December 11 , 1929 at 10:46 a.m., the 24”x16”x16” cornerstone was laid for the sanitarium. It was constructed of concrete, heavily reinforced with steel mesh. In the top of the stone a copper box compartment 7”x 8”x 12 ” would receive future documents when the cornerstone was finally placed in the actual foundation of the building. Ninety-nine persons witnessed this event. During the ceremony Mr Prentiss Tucker gave an address. In January 1931 Mount Ecclesia published a small monthly paper called The Mount Ecclesia Herald, free of charge to members and 50 ¢ a year for non-members. It was a family paper that gave news for which there was not room in the monthly magazine Rays from the Rose Cross. In spite of great enthusiasm, the Herald was short lived. The December 1932 issue stated that the paper existed only by the grace of its readers; that funds were exhausted and the staff had been reduced to half. In Rays from the Rose Cross an article informed readers that the building of the sanitarium began on January 6, but because there were insufficient funds only a start could be made. On Sunday, February 7, 1932 , at noon, the cornerstone was laid. More than 125 people attended, among them Mayor Martin and other notables of Oceanside, and a few freemasons. The president of the Fellowship, Judge Carl A. Davis, directed the meeting and gave the inaugural speech. Then more speeches were given by Mary B. Roberts of the Healing De- partment, Dr J . A. Balsey of the Los Angeles center, and Mr William Al- bert of the San Diego center. After the speeches the architect, Lester A. Cramer, assisted by freemasons, laid the cornerstone. They sealed the copper box that contained documents about the sanitarium and placed it into the cavity of the stone before the actual building was initiated. In 1932 the Rays as well as the Herald stated that the construction was pro- ceeding smoothly. In the Rays of July 1932 , page 389 , a picture of the nearly completed building, called attention to the story. “At a special meeting of the board of trustees held at Mount Ecclesia on June 4, Christmas was set as the tentative date for the opening of the new sanitarium to the public. It is hoped that all the necessary ar- 238 Copied from Rays from the Rose Cross . December 1929 , p. 598 . 160 rangements, including furnishing and equipping, be completed by that time, and possibly before. The physical features of the building are now practically finished. The concrete terraces are omitted for the present as they are not a necessity in the beginning. The final touches to the building will be made within a couple of weeks, including the grading of the grounds. The building, both inside and out, presents a very fine appearance. The exterior is white stucco, the front entrance being of artificial stone with columns and entablature. The latest hospital conveniences and accessories will be provided. There is an elec- trical call system for nurses, a nurses’ station, a diet kitchen, etc. “The obstetrical department is not being finished at the present time, as that is left for a future development after it is decided by the doctor and head nurse whether it is desirable to proceed with it. Twenty-one thousand dollars have been spent in completing the building itself, and approximately $5000 remains for furniture, physiotherapy equipment, and a reserve fund. “The doctor and head nurse to be in charge have been tentatively selected and will be announced later. It is hoped that some of the centers will desire to furnish certain rooms, which will be named after the centers which do this. It is also thought that some of them will wish to endow charity beds in the institution, because many will come to us who will not have the means to provide for their treatment and some provision for them must be made. The institution is starting with only a small reserve fund and therefore cannot provide free treatment, at least in the beginning, unless this is covered by an endowment. It is particularly requested that between now and the tentative opening date in December our students and friends, both in and out of the centers, make this understanding the subject of prayer and meditations in order that the archetype of the opening may be definitely formed, which will be a tremendous help in making the institution a success after it is opened. Please don’t forget this, for it is an important factor. “Advertising matter, booklets, including schedules of prices for rooms, treatments, etc., will be prepared during the summer and fall and sent to all students and to agencies for getting publicity which the friends and students of the Fellowship can give to this undertaking, both from the standpoint of getting patients, and also increasing its reserve fund. This will be greatly appreciated and is much needed. The institution must be self-supporting because it cannot be sup- ported from the funds donated to the general work of the Fellow- ship. The present reserve fund will not last long unless it is supple- 161 mented by other endowments or unless we are successful in obtain- ing an adequate number of patients to pay expenses and keep the institution running. Therefore, the cooperation of all is earnestly requested for this important undertaking. All can have a part in it and help to make it a success, both by their prayers and their material as- sistance.” The worldwide economic slump and exhausted reserves were the prob- able causes of failure to open the sanitarium on the appointed day in De- cember. Seven years later, at Christmas 1938 , the opening finally took place, but more about that later. Along with material difficulties, there were spiritual problems at Mount Ecclesia that reached a climax in 1931 . To get a clear understanding of the origins, we must return to the year 1910 when the Teacher drew Max Heindel’s attention to the fact that it matters not, “[H]ow good the in- tentions may be in the beginning, as soon as position and power are cre- ated which may gratify the vanity of men, the temptation proves too great for the majority …”239 Even during Max Heindel’s life there were persons who had designs on the copyrights of his books, hence his decision to make a will. When the will was examined in 1919 , it appeared that Mrs Heindel inherited the grounds of Mount Ecclesia. Then, some members urged Mrs Heindel to present the land to the Fellowship. Although her lawyer advised her to keep the grounds in her name during her lifetime, she agreed to transfer the property. She had complete faith in the Fellowship’s Board of Trus- tees. On January 10 , 1913 , Heindel founded the corporation in compliance with the laws of California, believing this to be the best way to protect the copyrights and material possessions of the Fellowship. The founding of a corporation also gave the means to protect the Fellowship against possible claims by the family of his former wife. The Trustees of the corporation themselves exercised supervision and their successors were appointed by THEMSELVES and not by popular VOTE . They were not obliged to answer to the members as a body for their management. If crystalliza- tion occurred or questionable members took their seat on the committee, the probationers could not remove them. Soon Mrs Heindel regret- ted that she had not taken the advice of her lawyer.

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